Visa and Migration Blog

What is an Australian Resident Return Visas (RRV)?

Resident Return Visas (RRVs)

The purpose of RRVs is to facilitate the re-entry into Australia of non-citizen permanent residents; and to ensure that only those people who have a genuine commitment to residing in Australia, or who are contributing to Australia's well-being, retain the right to return to Australia and remain permanently.

 The applicant must be:

 a permanent resident holding a valid permanent visa

·         a former permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled, or

·         a former Australian citizen who has lost or renounced his or her Australian citizenship.

 For a five- year RRV, applicants must have spent two years out of the last five years in Australia as a permanent resident or have substantial and beneficial ties to Australia. Applicants who have been absent from Australia for more than five years must also have compelling reasons for their absence of more than five years.

 A three-month RRV may be granted to persons who don't yet qualify for a five-year RRV but have strong reasons to go overseas, such as the severe illness of a family member. Applicants must have spent at least one day in Australia in the last five years as a permanent resident, and have compelling and compassionate reasons for departing Australia.

 Spouses and family members of an RRV holder who are or have been permanent residents may be granted RRVs on the basis that their family head holds an RRV. An RRV granted on this basis will have the same validity period as the family head's, whether the family member applies for an RRV at the same time as the family head or later.

 If the family member meets one of the other criteria for an RRV in their own right, they will be granted an RRV with the full five-year validity.

A Resident Return Visa (RRV) facilitates the re-entry into Australia of non-citizen permanent residents. The RRV ensures that only those people who have a genuine commitment to residing in Australia or who are contributing to Australia's well being, retain the right to return to Australia and remain permanently.

RRVs are usually issued with a validity of 5 years or 3 months. An RRV allows Australian permanent residents to travel from, and return to Australia as often as they wish within the validity of the visa, whilst maintaining their status as permanent residents.

 Do I need a Resident Return Visa (RRV)?

 Everybody, except Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens travelling on their New Zealand passport, must have a visa to travel to Australia. If you are a permanent resident of Australia and intend to travel away from Australia, you should ensure that you have a visa, which is valid for re-entry, on your return to Australia. This visa can be your original permanent resident visa, or a Resident Return Visa, as long as it authorises travel to Australia on the date you return. The visa can be in your current passport or in an expired passport that you also carry with you while you travel.

 Permanent Residents should obtain their RRVs before leaving Australia, to avoid travel delays and the need to obtain an RRV through an Australian diplomatic office overseas.

 What are the visa requirements for a Resident Return Visa (RRV)?

 To apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) you must be:

·         a permanent resident holding a valid permanent visa,

·         a former permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled, or

·         a former Australian citizen who has lost or renounced their Australian citizenship.

 For a five-year RRV:

 you must be lawfully present in Australia for a total of at least 2 years in the 5 years immediately before lodging the application for the visa;

·         you must have substantial and beneficial business, cultural, employment or personal ties to Australia; and

·         if you have been absent from Australia for more than five years, you must also have compelling reasons for your absence. 

If you do not meet these criteria, but have to leave Australia for compassionate and compelling reasons, you can apply for a 3 month RRV.

 If you are unable to meet the RRV requirements in your own right, but you are a member of the family unit of a person who holds an RRV, you may be granted an RRV with the same validity period as the family head's.

 There are two classes of Resident Return Visa: The Subclass 155 RRV and the Subclass 157 RRV.

 155 Resident Return Visa

 The most common form of RRV allows the holder to leave and re-enter Australia at will for five years.

 157 Resident Return Visa

 The 157 RRV is typically reserved for those who are ineligible for a 155 RRV; it also allows the holder to leave and re-enter Australia legally, but only for a period of three months.

  

If you are the holder of a permanent residency visa for Australia, you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. However, your visa is only valid as a means of entry into the country for the first five years since your visa grant date.

 Exceptional Cases

 If you have not spent two years in Australia within the last five, you may still be eligible for a Resident Return Visa. However, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) will judge each application on a case by case basis and this can also affect the validity period of an RRV.

Reasons why an RRV application may be granted include:

 Being able to prove a compassionate and/or compelling reason why the residency requirement could not have been met

·         Having personal ties to Australia

·         Having employment or other business ties to Australia

·         Having a partner or family member in possession of a valid Resident Return Visa

I am a member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC ID R422575) and Australian migration department has given him offshore agent id 3000526.Please visit our website www.dreamvisas.com